It doesn’t take a bevy of bought cleaners to get your home sparkling clean. In fact, you probably already have the ingredients on hand in your pantry to make a myriad of effective cleaners. Whether you’re looking to save money or reduce your exposure to harsh chemicals, these easy-to-prepare solutions will have you wondering why you ever bought so many different products in the first place.
First, it’s helpful to understand the different types of cleaners and what they’re used for. Alkaline-based cleaners are good for removing fat, dirt and grease (think oven spray and degreaser). Baking soda, Borax and washing soda are all useful household alternatives. Acid-based cleaners such as toilet bowl cleaner and tile spray are good at cleaning windows and copper, plus removing rust, mineral deposits and mold. White vinegar is the standard household substitute. Detergents like dish soap remove dirt and break down grease. You’ll find that a little goes a very long way.
Laundry detergent
I’ve been making this homemade laundry soap for more than a decade. It’s cheap, easy to make and customizable. Boil 10 cups of water, then remove from the heat and mix in ½ bar Fels Naptha or Castile soap (grated on the large holes of a box grater) and 1 cup each of washing soda and Borax powder. To add fragrance, add up to 50 drops of your favorite essential oil. Whisk or blend till the powders are dissolved, then let sit until completely cooled (the solution will gel once cool). Whisk or blend with a hand blender to loosen the detergent and make it pourable. Shake well before each use and add one cup of homemade detergent to a large load of laundry.
Fabric softener
Add 20 drops of essential oil to 2 cups white vinegar. Add ¼ cup of the solution to the washing machine during the rinse cycle.
All-purpose cleaner
This works well for windows and countertops. Combine 2 cups each water and white vinegar in a spray bottle with a couple drops of dish detergent. Shake well to combine. Spray on windows or counters and wipe dry with a microfiber towel, moving in an ‘S’ pattern.
Mildew/toilet bowl cleaner
Combine 2 cups hot water and ½ cup distilled vinegar along with 1 teaspoon each dish soap, Borax powder and tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Shake well, then spray and wipe clean. For tough cleaning jobs, let sit five minutes before wiping or scrubbing clean.
Wood furniture cleaner
Combine 1/4 cup olive oil, ½ cup distilled vinegar and 2 cups warm water in a spray bottle, along with a few drops of essential oil, if desired. Shake well and spray onto a soft cloth and polish, moving with the grain of the wood.
In addition to preparing your own cleaners from scratch, conscientious home-keepers can further reduce their environmental impact by buying products in bulk. Ami Shelton opened The Keep Store, 312 E. Adams St., in 2022. She was inspired to start her own business after visiting a similar shop while on vacation in Florida and wanted to bring a similar option to central Illinois.
Shelton sells a wide array of products in bulk from dish soap to lotions and shampoo to dishwasher detergent. Customers can bring their own jar or help themselves to a donated jar and fill it with their choice of product to purchase by weight.
“We screen all our products through organizations like the Environmental Working Group Healthy Living App to make sure that there aren’t unwanted chemicals in them,” Shelton said. “Also, most of our products are ‘closed-loop,’ meaning that when we run out, we send the big container back to be refilled, further reducing the overall environmental impact.”
In addition to selling high-quality household products and cosmetics, The Keep Store also serves as a drop-off point for recycling specific items such as toothpaste tubes, wine corks and drink pouches.
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This article appears in Home and Garden.
